Video Shows Rumored iPhone 7 Dual Camera System

According to the latest rumors, the iPhone 7 will include a twin-camera system. Now a CNET video demonstrates how the technology would work.

Apple acquired camera tech firm LinX, but now a competitor to the company has shown off its own dual-camera system. The video demonstrates how images from the two camera modules are combined to make sharper zoomed-in images.

New video shows off exciting next-generation camera tech

The company, Corephotonics, promises to deliver sharper images than the iPhone 6s Plus. Executives say that they started working on the system in 2014, but supply chain problems held back progress.

“I am happy to report that today, all three components demand, development and the supply chain maturity are in place. That goes for the camera manufacturing and also for the application processor framework,” said Eran Kali, Corephotonic’s vice president of sales and licensing.

Excitement is growing over dual camera systems, and we may be about to see rapid progress in their adoption. Sony CFO Kenichiro Yoshida stated that “the takeoff of smartphone[s] with dual lens camera[s] will be in the year of 2017.” Sony makes sensors for iPhone cameras.

Rival companies developing similar camera modules

LinX and Corephotonics are both working towards similar goals, and better performance in low light is thought to be an important aim. However an Apple patent application filed in January also raised the possibility that Cupertino is planning a number of more complicated options.

This could include a combination of wide-angle and close-up views in a single video using picture-in-picture. In a 9to5Mac poll, 83% of respondents said that they were looking forward to exploring the potential of the technology.

Interestingly the dual camera system will reportedly only be featured on the larger iPhone 7 Plus. This raises the question of whether Apple is about to embark on a new era of greater divergence between the standard iPhone and its larger cousin.

Rumors abound regarding iPhone 7 variations

Analyst Ming-chi Kuo at KGI Securities believes that not even every iPhone 7 Plus will feature the new technology. Kuo, who has a strong record in predicting future Apple product specs, says that the company may prefer to create a premium iPhone 7 Plus that includes the advanced camera system.

It is also possible that Apple executives are working on two versions of the iPhone 7 Plus, but that only one will actually be produced. Rumors over Apple’s interest in dual-camera systems swirled after Apple bought Linx before the launch of the iPhone 6s.

A dual-camera setup would take photos from both cameras and then combine the data using “Linx Imaging” algorithms. According to KGI as much as 40% of iPhone 7 shipments could include a dual-camera system.

The launch of the iPhone 7 may be a long way off but it is exciting to hear about the potential uses of dual camera technology. The high-end smartphone market will remain incredibly competitive and it is only natural that Apple is exploring ways in which it can make its products stand out from those of its rivals.

The soon-to-be-released LG G5 features dual camera technology, but it is not clear whether the smartphones use technology developed by Corephotonics. An LG executive told CNET that its camera technology was developed in-house.

It is set to be an interesting couple of years for smartphone photographers, who may soon be able to take even more amazing pictures.